BACKGROUND:Laser and light-based therapies have been used successfully in the treatment of rosacea; however, evidence is lacking regarding the efficacy of radiofrequency (RF). OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the efficacy of RF in the treatment of rosacea compared with pulsed dye laser (PDL). METHODS:Thirty patients with rosacea (erythematotelangiectatic rosacea [ETR], n = 20; papulopustular rosacea [PPR], n = 10) were enrolled in a randomized, controlled, split-face study. The patients were treated with RF on one side and PDL on the other side. Each treatment consisted of 3 sessions at 4-week intervals and followed up until 4 weeks after the last treatment. Efficacy was assessed by rosacea severity score, erythema index, lesion counts, physician's subjective evaluation, and patient's satisfaction. RESULTS:Radiofrequency and PDL resulted in significant improvement in severity scores and erythema and 70% of the patients receiving RF treatment showed a clinical improvement of >50%. No significant difference was noted between RF and PDL treatment in ETR. However, RF treatment led to a significantly greater decrease in papulopustular lesion count and rosacea severity score in PPR compared with PDL treatment. CONCLUSION:RF therapy was effective in the treatment of rosacea. It should be considered an alternative therapeutic option, especially in PPR.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Laser and light-based therapies have been used successfully in the treatment of rosacea; however, evidence is lacking regarding the efficacy of radiofrequency (RF). OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the efficacy of RF in the treatment of rosacea compared with pulsed dye laser (PDL). METHODS: Thirty patients with rosacea (erythematotelangiectatic rosacea [ETR], n = 20; papulopustular rosacea [PPR], n = 10) were enrolled in a randomized, controlled, split-face study. The patients were treated with RF on one side and PDL on the other side. Each treatment consisted of 3 sessions at 4-week intervals and followed up until 4 weeks after the last treatment. Efficacy was assessed by rosacea severity score, erythema index, lesion counts, physician's subjective evaluation, and patient's satisfaction. RESULTS: Radiofrequency and PDL resulted in significant improvement in severity scores and erythema and 70% of the patients receiving RF treatment showed a clinical improvement of >50%. No significant difference was noted between RF and PDL treatment in ETR. However, RF treatment led to a significantly greater decrease in papulopustular lesion count and rosacea severity score in PPR compared with PDL treatment. CONCLUSION:RF therapy was effective in the treatment of rosacea. It should be considered an alternative therapeutic option, especially in PPR.
Authors: E J van Zuuren; Z Fedorowicz; J Tan; M M D van der Linden; B W M Arents; B Carter; L Charland Journal: Br J Dermatol Date: 2019-03-10 Impact factor: 9.302